10 ILCS 5/ Election Code.

(10 ILCS 5/6-49) (from Ch. 46, par. 6-49)

Sec. 6-49. The registration hereinabove provided preceding the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, 1936, shall constitute a permanent registration, subject to revision and alteration in the manner hereinafter provided. However, except as provided in Section 6-49.1 of this Article, the registration hereinabove provided for shall constitute a permanent registration only until September 15, 1961, in municipalities having 3 days of precinct registration preceding the 1962 primary election and only until the last day of precinct re-registration in 1970 in other municipalities, at which time such registrations shall become null and void and shall be cancelled immediately thereafter by such Board.

All registrations subsequent to that hereinbefore provided shall be upon registration record cards provided by the Board of Election Commissioners in accordance with the provisions of Section 6-35 of this Article.

(Source: Laws 1967, p. 2987.)

(10 ILCS 5/6-49.1) (from Ch. 46, par. 6-49.1)

Sec. 6-49.1. In municipalities of 500,000 or more inhabitants having a Board of Election Commissioners and in all cities, villages and incorporated towns under the jurisdiction of such Board of Election Commissioners there shall be 3 days of registration in each precinct preceding the April 10, 1962 State and County Primary Election. The first of such 3 days of registration shall be on Friday, September 15, 1961; the second of such 3 days of registration shall be on Friday, October 13, 1961; and the third of such 3 days of registration shall be on Tuesday, March 13, 1962. Any registration received by the Board of Election Commissioners after July 15, 1961 shall be considered a part of the re-registration required by this Section and shall constitute a permanent registration subject to revision and alteration in the manner hereafter provided in this Article. In all other cities, villages and incorporated towns the registration heretofore in effect shall continue unless the Board of Election Commissioners for any such other cities, villages or incorporated towns files with the clerk of such other city, village or incorporated town, prior to October 15, 1969, a resolution, or copy thereof, expressing the need for a general registration therein preceding the June, 1970, State and county primary election. If such resolution is so filed, there shall be a re-registration in 1969 and 1970 as hereinafter in this Section provided. The registration herein provided in this Section 6-49.1 shall constitute a permanent registration subject to revision and alteration in the manner hereinafter provided in this Article.

In municipalities having fewer than 500,000 inhabitants and having a board of election commissioners and in which a resolution expressing the need for a general registration preceding the June, 1970, primary has been filed as provided in this Section, there shall be 3 days of registration in each precinct preceding the primary election of June 9, 1970. The first of such 3 days of registration shall be Friday, November 21, 1969; the second, Friday, December 19, 1969; and the third, Tuesday, January 15, 1970. Any registration received by the board of election commissioners after September 1, 1970, shall be considered a part of the re-registration required by this Section and shall constitute a permanent registration subject to revision and alteration in the manner hereinafter provided in this Article.

The place of registration in each precinct shall be designated by the Board of Election Commissioners and public notice thereof given, and the provisions of Article 11, Section 11-4 of this Act shall apply thereto. The registration places so designated shall be open from 8:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. on each of such days of registration. All of the provisions of this Article 6 shall apply to such registration.

(Source: Laws 1967, p. 2987.)

(10 ILCS 5/6-50) (from Ch. 46, par. 6-50)

Sec. 6-50. The office of the board of election commissioners shall be open during ordinary business hours of each week day, from 9 a.m. to 12 o'clock noon on the last four Saturdays immediately preceding the end of the period of registration preceding each election, and such other days and such other times as the board may direct. There shall be no registration at the office of the board of election commissioners in cities, villages and incorporated towns of fewer than 200,000 inhabitants during the 27 days preceding any primary, regular or special election at which the cards provided for in this article are used, or until the second day following such primary, regular or special election. In cities, villages and incorporated towns of 200,000 or more inhabitants, there shall be no registration of voters at the office of the board of election commissioners during the 35 days immediately preceding any election; provided, however, where no precinct registration is being conducted prior to any election then registration may be taken in the office of the board up to and including the 28th day prior to such election. In any election called for the submission of the revision or alteration of, or the amendments to the Constitution, submitted by a Constitutional Convention, the final day for registration at the office of the election authority charged with the printing of the ballot of this election shall be the 15th day prior to the date of election.

The Board of Election Commissioners shall appoint one or more registration teams, each consisting of one member from each of the 2 leading political parties, for the purpose of accepting the registration of any voter who files an affidavit, within the period for taking registrations provided for in this Article, that he is physically unable to appear at the office of the Board or at any appointed place of registration. On the day or days when a precinct registration is being conducted such teams shall consist of one member from each of the 2 leading political parties who are serving on the precinct registration board. Each team so designated shall visit each person with a disability and shall accept the registration of such person the same as if he had applied for registration in person.

The office of the board of election commissioners may be designated as a place of registration under Section 6-51 of this Article and, if so designated, may also be open for purposes of registration on such day or days as may be specified by the board of election commissioners under the provisions of that Section.

(Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)

(10 ILCS 5/6-50.1) (from Ch. 46, par. 6-50.1)

Sec. 6-50.1. In addition to registration at the office of the board of election commissioners, the board of election commissioners shall provide the following methods of registration:

(1) The appointment of deputy registrars as provided in Section 6-50.2;

(2) The establishment of temporary places of registration as provided in Section 6-50.3.

The board of election commissioners may provide for registration pursuant to Section 6-51.

(Source: P.A. 83-1059.)

(10 ILCS 5/6-50.2) (from Ch. 46, par. 6-50.2)

Sec. 6-50.2. (a) The board of election commissioners shall appoint all precinct committeepersons in the election jurisdiction as deputy registrars who may accept the registration of any qualified resident of the State, except during the 27 days preceding an election.

The board of election commissioners shall appoint each of the following named persons as deputy registrars upon the written request of such persons:

1. The chief librarian, or a qualified person designated by the chief librarian, of any public library situated within the election jurisdiction, who may accept the registrations of any qualified resident of the State, at such library.

2. The principal, or a qualified person designated by the principal, of any high school, elementary school, or vocational school situated within the election jurisdiction, who may accept the registrations of any resident of the State, at such school. The board of election commissioners shall notify every principal and vice-principal of each high school, elementary school, and vocational school situated in the election jurisdiction of their eligibility to serve as deputy registrars and offer training courses for service as deputy registrars at conveniently located facilities at least 4 months prior to every election.

3. The president, or a qualified person designated by the president, of any university, college, community college, academy, or other institution of learning situated within the State, who may accept the registrations of any resident of the election jurisdiction, at such university, college, community college, academy, or institution.

4. A duly elected or appointed official of a bona fide labor organization, or a reasonable number of qualified members designated by such official, who may accept the registrations of any qualified resident of the State.

5. A duly elected or appointed official of a bona fide State civic organization, as defined and determined by rule of the State Board of Elections, or qualified members designated by such official, who may accept the registration of any qualified resident of the State. In determining the number of deputy registrars that shall be appointed, the board of election commissioners shall consider the population of the jurisdiction, the size of the organization, the geographic size of the jurisdiction, convenience for the public, the existing number of deputy registrars in the jurisdiction and their location, the registration activities of the organization and the need to appoint deputy registrars to assist and facilitate the registration of non-English speaking individuals. In no event shall a board of election commissioners fix an arbitrary number applicable to every civic organization requesting appointment of its members as deputy registrars. The State Board of Elections shall by rule provide for certification of bona fide State civic organizations. Such appointments shall be made for a period not to exceed 2 years, terminating on the first business day of the month following the month of the general election, and shall be valid for all periods of voter registration as provided by this Code during the terms of such appointments.

6. The Director of Healthcare and Family Services, or a reasonable number of employees designated by the Director and located at public aid offices, who may accept the registration of any qualified resident of the election jurisdiction at any such public aid office.

7. The Director of the Illinois Department of Employment Security, or a reasonable number of employees designated by the Director and located at unemployment offices, who may accept the registration of any qualified resident of the election jurisdiction at any such unemployment office. If the request to be appointed as deputy registrar is denied, the board of election commissioners shall, within 10 days after the date the request is submitted, provide the affected individual or organization with written notice setting forth the specific reasons or criteria relied upon to deny the request to be appointed as deputy registrar.

8. The president of any corporation, as defined by the Business Corporation Act of 1983, or a reasonable number of employees designated by such president, who may accept the registrations of any qualified resident of the State.

The board of election commissioners may appoint as many additional deputy registrars as it considers necessary. The board of election commissioners shall appoint such additional deputy registrars in such manner that the convenience of the public is served, giving due consideration to both population concentration and area. Some of the additional deputy registrars shall be selected so that there are an equal number from each of the 2 major political parties in the election jurisdiction. The board of election commissioners, in appointing an additional deputy registrar, shall make the appointment from a list of applicants submitted by the Chair of the County Central Committee of the applicant's political party. A Chair of a County Central Committee shall submit a list of applicants to the board by November 30 of each year. The board may require a Chair of a County Central Committee to furnish a supplemental list of applicants.

Deputy registrars may accept registrations at any time other than the 27-day period preceding an election. All persons appointed as deputy registrars shall be registered voters within the election jurisdiction and shall take and subscribe to the following oath or affirmation:

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm, as the case may be) that I will support the Constitution of the United States, and the Constitution of the State of Illinois, and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of registration officer to the best of my ability and that I will register no person nor cause the registration of any person except upon his personal application before me. .................................... (Signature of Registration Officer)" This oath shall be administered and certified to by one of the commissioners or by the executive director or by some person designated by the board of election commissioners, and shall immediately thereafter be filed with the board of election commissioners. The members of the board of election commissioners and all persons authorized by them under the provisions of this Article to take registrations, after themselves taking and subscribing to the above oath, are authorized to take or administer such oaths and execute such affidavits as are required by this Article.

Appointments of deputy registrars under this Section, except precinct committeepersons, shall be for 2-year terms, commencing on December 1 following the general election of each even-numbered year, except that the terms of the initial appointments shall be until December 1st following the next general election. Appointments of precinct committeepersons shall be for terms commencing on the date of the county convention following the general primary at which they were elected and ending on the date immediately preceding the date of the next county convention, which may be held by audio or video conference. The county clerk shall issue a certificate of appointment to each deputy registrar, and shall maintain in his office for public inspection a list of the names of all appointees.

(b) The board of election commissioners shall be responsible for training all deputy registrars appointed pursuant to subsection (a), at times and locations reasonably convenient for both the board of election commissioners and such appointees. The board of election commissioners shall be responsible for certifying and supervising all deputy registrars appointed pursuant to subsection (a). Deputy registrars appointed under subsection (a) shall be subject to removal for cause.

(c) Completed registration materials under the control of deputy registrars appointed pursuant to subsection (a) shall be returned to the appointing election authority by first-class mail within 2 business days or personal delivery within 7 days, except that completed registration materials received by the deputy registrars during the period between the 35th and 28th day preceding an election shall be returned by the deputy registrars to the appointing election authority within 48 hours after receipt thereof. The completed registration materials received by the deputy registrars on the 28th day preceding an election shall be returned by the deputy registrars within 24 hours after receipt thereof. Unused materials shall be returned by deputy registrars appointed pursuant to paragraph 4 of subsection (a), not later than the next working day following the close of registration.

(d) The county clerk or board of election commissioners, as the case may be, must provide any additional forms requested by any deputy registrar regardless of the number of unaccounted registration forms the deputy registrar may have in his or her possession.

(e) No deputy registrar shall engage in any electioneering or the promotion of any cause during the performance of his or her duties.

(f) The board of election commissioners shall not be criminally or civilly liable for the acts or omissions of any deputy registrar. Such deputy registrars shall not be deemed to be employees of the board of election commissioners.

(g) Completed registration materials returned by deputy registrars for persons residing outside the election jurisdiction shall be transmitted by the board of election commissioners within 2 days after receipt to the election authority of the person's election jurisdiction of residence.

(Source: P.A. 102-558, eff. 8-20-21; 103-467, eff. 8-4-23.)

(10 ILCS 5/6-50.3) (from Ch. 46, par. 6-50.3)

Sec. 6-50.3. The board of election commissioners may establish temporary places of registration for such times and at such locations as the board may select. Notice of the time and place of registration at any such temporary place of registration under this Section shall be published by the board of election commissioners in a newspaper having a general circulation in the city, village or incorporated town not less than 3 nor more than 15 days before the holding of such registration.

Temporary places of registration shall be established so that the areas of concentration of population or use by the public are served, whether by facilities provided in places of private business or in public buildings or in mobile units. Areas which may be designated as temporary places of registration include, but are not limited to, facilities licensed or certified pursuant to the Nursing Home Care Act, the Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act of 2013, the ID/DD Community Care Act, or the MC/DD Act, Soldiers' and Sailors' Homes, shopping centers, business districts, public buildings and county fairs.

Temporary places of registration shall be available to the public not less than 2 hours per year for each 1,000 population or fraction thereof in the county.

All temporary places of registration shall be manned by employees of the board of election commissioners or deputy registrars appointed pursuant to Section 6-50.2.

(Source: P.A. 98-104, eff. 7-22-13; 98-1171, eff. 6-1-15; 99-180, eff. 7-29-15.)

(10 ILCS 5/6-51) (from Ch. 46, par. 6-51)

Sec. 6-51. Prior to any election the board of election commissioners may, in the manner provided by this Section, designate convenient places in the city, village or incorporated town for the registration of voters. A list of such places shall be submitted to and be subject to the approval of the circuit court, and notice of the time and place for such registration shall be given by publication in a newspaper in such city, village or incorporated town 20 days before such registration. In cities, villages and incorporated towns of 200,000 or more, at least one such place shall be designated for each 30,000 inhabitants, and at least one shall be designated for each ward of such city, village or incorporated town and for each city, village or incorporated town under the jurisdiction of a board of election commissioners; but the requirement of one place of registration for each 30,000 inhabitants shall not apply to special elections for a city, village or incorporated town, or any part thereof, or to any judicial election at which no officers other than judicial officers are to be elected, or to any election, general, special or municipal (including a primary election) that shall be held on or before July 1, in the year immediately following a congressional election.

The places so designated for registration shall be open from 8 o'clock a. m., to 9 o'clock p. m., on such day or days (not exceeding 2) as may be specified by the board of election commissioners, but shall not be open on any day more than 38 days preceding the election or at any time subsequent to Tuesday, 4 weeks before the election; provided that in municipalities of more than 200,000 and having a board of election commissioners and in cities, villages and incorporated towns within the jurisdiction of such board, such place may be opened on such day or days as may be specified by the board of election commissioners but shall not be open on any day more than 38 days preceding the election, and shall not be open at any time subsequent to Tuesday, 4 weeks before the election.

(Source: P.A. 80-704.)

(10 ILCS 5/6-52) (from Ch. 46, par. 6-52)

Sec. 6-52. Registration under Sections 6-49.1, 6-50, 6-50.2, 6-50.3 and 6-51 of this Article shall be made in the manner provided by Sections 6-34, 6-35 and 6-37 of this Article. With respect to registrations at the office of the Board of Election Commissioners under Section 6-50 hereof, applications to complete registrations and hearings thereon shall (except as may be otherwise provided in Sections 6-43 and 6-60 of this Article) be made and heard at such times as may by rule be prescribed by the Board of Election Commissioners, but the hearing and decision thereof by the Board of Election Commissioners shall be within 30 days after the application for registration. In such cases and in all other cases not specifically provided for by this Article, applications for hearings by the court may be made within 5 days after decision by the board in the manner provided by Section 6-46, and a hearing and decision by such court shall be had within 30 days after such application. Appeals may be taken as in other civil cases. In all cases where registration is had at the office of the Board of Election Commissioners within 42 days before any election hearings by such board and by the court shall (except as may be otherwise provided in Sections 6-43 and 6-60 of this Article) be on the days preceding the election specified in Sections 6-45 and 6-46 of this Article. Hearings and decisions shall be had within the periods specified by such sections.

(Source: P.A. 79-1364.)